‘Crispr babies’ spark calls to restrict gene editing

Researchers are split over how human genome editing should be regulated globally, after a Chinese scientist announced the birth of twins that he claimed to have genetically modified to make resistant to HIV infection.

One initiative to promote responsible research in the area is calling for a UN-led global moratorium, but some leading scientists want a different approach.

Chinese genetics researcher He Jiankui claimed on 25 November that he had used the Crispr-Cas9 genome-editing technique to alter the genes of twins to prevent them from contracting HIV.